Detailed Itinerary
Embark Azamara Journey beginning at 1:00PM. All aboard by 3:30PM.
Welcome Cocktails & Briefing this evening. Meet your fellow participants and PerryGolf staff.
Overnight: At Sea
Guernsey, or the Bailiwick of Guernsey by its official title, is a self-governing possession of the British Crown found off the coast of Normandy, France in the English Channel. It is a wonderful juxtaposition of England and France with an English lean by virtue of the Norman invasion of England in 1066. St. Peter Port overlooks the harbor, with rows of brightly painted houses, and terraced gardens. The island is ideal for rambles along cliffside paths and through the bucolic interior. While fishing, flower growing, and dairy farming are still important, Guernsey's favorable tax climate has brought an influx of offshore banks and insurance companies with their attendant bistros and boutiques. It was here in exile from 1855-1870 where Victor Hugo wrote some of his best-known works including Les Misérables.
Enjoy Guernsey on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Port Explorer Guide - St Peter Port
Overnight: At Sea
Today it’s time to relax and reset. Make your reservations early for The Sanctum Spa, a world-class wellness facility offering a full range of health, beauty and restorative treatments. Complimentary fitness and nutrition classes are available along with a fully equipped gym on Deck 9 offering magnificent sea views. There’s room for everyone on the Pool Deck both in and out of the sun. Service to your lounge chair is available from The Pool Bar where the attentive staff is always ready to offer an inclusive cocktail, beer, bottled water, soft drink or fresh towel. The Patio restaurant serves casual fare during the day then completely transforms itself into a sit-down al fresco dining experience at night with table linens and candles. Elegant specialty dining is available for beef at Prime C and Italian at Aqualina. Windows Café serves casual buffet dining with every imaginable choice indoors and out at the sensational Sunset Bar.
What a way to spend a day!
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Golf du Medoc crafted from the genius of American architect Bill Coore, this Scottish links style course opened in 1989 and has earned its reputation for immaculate putting surfaces. Consistently ranked in the top 100 in Continental Europe, the Chateaux course evokes images of classics such as Sunningdale and Swinley in the British Isles, combining heather, gorse, broom and, of course, the menacing wind. No. 11 is an intriguing risk / reward par-4. A creek bisects the fairway and demands a decision, offering bold and conservative routes to the green.
SIGHTSEEING: Bordeaux’s fortunes have long been tied to viticulture, beginning with an expansion of the wine trade with England in the 14th century. As a result it is a handsome and cohesive city of uniform classical and neoclassical style, with monumental buildings and many fine estates financed by the almighty grape. The nearby countryside is alive with wine chateaux sporting impressive appellations such as Pauillac, Sauternes, Margaux, and Saint-Emilion. A visit is an excellent opportunity to learn more about wine production and appreciation, which of course requires a considerable amount of tasting to accomplish.
Enjoy Bordeaux on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Port Explorer Guide – Bordeaux
Overnight: In Port – Bordeaux, France
A second day to enjoy all that Bordeaux has to offer.
Enjoy Bordeaux on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
One of France’s most picturesque beach retreats, St. Jean de Luz is a prosperous Basque town best known for its architecture and cuisine. Once a modest fishing port, it grew rich in the 16th century from fishing and whaling, supplemented by piracy that was backed by the French king … many of the handsome old houses in town were in fact built on the proceeds. The Sun King, Louis XIV King of France, married Marie-Therese of Spain in 1660 in the magnificent Church of St John the Baptist, with its fabulous baroque altar.
Enjoy St Jean de Cruz on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Uraburu Golf was designed by revered two times Masters Champion José María Olazabal, a native of this area. Each hole is a an example of the marriage of golf and its surroundings, highlighted by centennial oaks, conifers and other native trees, providing magical surroundings and views for the golfer. The beauty of the course lies in its diversity, and it provides an outstanding experience for the visiting golfer.
SIGHTSEEING: If Bilbao wasn’t always a household name, it was transformed into one with the opening of Frank Gehry’s groundbreaking Guggenheim Museum in 1997. Located in the heart of the Basque Country, Bilbao became an instant media darling and tourist mecca. And that was just the beginning of an exciting phase of development in infrastructure and cultural activity which, combine with the Basque love of food, wine and laughter, solidified the city’s place in the annals of tourism.
Enjoy Bilbao on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
While not perhaps as overtly glamorous as some of Spain’s other coastal cities, Gijón is the apple of the Bay of Biscay’s eye. What wine is to Rioja, cider is to Gijón and the surrounding region, Asturias. Try the Cider Trail—a guided tour to some of the best cider houses and restaurants in the city to get a taste for this important cultural tradition. Gijón also has the distinct honor of having the largest number of bakeries per capita in all of Spain. It’s also rumored that the best croissants in the land can be found in this charming city.
Overnight: At Sea
You would be hard-pressed to find a city more shaped and impacted by the sea than La Coruna, Spain. You can see this influence in the Roman Tower of Hercules, a UNESCO World Heritage Site designated stone lighthouse. Standing guard over the city, the 180-foot Tower marks one end of the spectacular Paseo Marítimo promenade—one of the longest in Europe—and has been in operation since approximately the 2nd century AD. Walk some or all of the eight-mile long promenade to see some of the city’s other waterfront highlights like the Marina, Castelo de San Antón, and the Millennium monument. The strong nautical influence can also be seen in the characteristic glazed window balconies (also known as galerias) that give La Coruna its nickname the Glass City.
Enjoy La Coruna on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
GOLF: Private and exclusive, Estela is located a half-hour drive from Porto, shaggy dunes border narrow fairways on a 6,800-yard layout that includes two miles of Atlantic Ocean coastline. The spectacular scenery is complemented by the excellent condition of the penncross bentgrass greens and tifton bermuda fairways. Duarte Sottomayor, who studied golf course architecture under the acclaimed Robert Trent Jones Sr., designed Estela with the touch of a minimalist, allowing stiff breezes and the natural terrain to create a formidable, enjoyable challenge.
SIGHTSEEING: At the mouth of the Rio Douro lies the city of Porto, famous for its port wine trade. With origins dating back to the 5th century, there is plenty to see in this town that was named European Capital of Culture in 2001. Stroll the Ribeira neighborhood along the river, explore the Cathedral area, or tour the port lodges of Vila Nova de Gaia across the river. Savoring a taste of tawny port, trip and seafood while here is highly recommended.
Enjoy Porto on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: At Sea
GOLF: Oitavos Dunes is located on the most westerly tip of Europe and mixes wondrous views of the Atlantic Ocean against the stunning backdrop of the Sintra Mountains. Oitavos was designed by the renowned Arthur Hills and is one of two European Courses that bear his name. The course was inaugurated in 2001 and has been ranked in the top 100 in the world. Oitavos Dunes is a par 71 course that measures 6,900 yards from the competition tees. The layout is a lovely mixture of woodland and links-type holes that capitalize on the existing landscape.
SIGHTSEEING: Lisbon is one of the oldest cities in the world. Its magnificent harbour made it a logical trading port as far back as the Phoenicians, as well as a departure point for 15th century voyages sponsored by Prince Henry the Navigator, patron of Portuguese explorers. The city is rich in architecture, from Romanesque and Gothic to postmodern, and criss-crossed by monument-studded grand boulevards. Today it is seeking a place on the world stage by hosting, in addition to its own active cultural calendar, film festivals, art, fashion and design shows, book fairs, marathons, and rock concerts.
Enjoy Lisbon on your own or via Azamara Shore Excursions®.
Overnight: In Port - Lisbon, Portugal
Disembark Azamara Journey at 9:00AM.